As the weather begins to cool, many pests start to look for a warm place to spend the winter. They’re glad to cozy up inside your warm home with you for the cold months to come. What can you do to stop this from happening? Good question!
First, let’s take a look at some of the pests that may look to gain entry into your home.
Box Elder Bugs
About a half inch in length, the box elder bug is most easily identified by its color—black with red markings. They have six legs, two antennae, and a set of wings. Their main food source is the sap of box elder trees, which is how they get their name. They will also feed on maple or ash trees. Although box elder bugs can bite, their bite is not considered dangerous and is not usually painful. Box elder bugs are problematic because they are likely to exist in large numbers and can be very difficult to rid from your home.
Lady Bugs
Lady bugs are small and colorful, and well-known for their black spots. This is another pest which congregates in large numbers. They will enter a home when searching for a warm place to overwinter. Lady bugs hide behind walls and baseboards, making it hard to remove them from the home. These bugs don’t bite or sting and are considered a nuisance pest. You will often see lady bugs gathered around a sunny window.
Stink Bugs
Deserving of their name, the stink bug produces a foul-smelling odor from small glands located in their thorax. When they feel threatened, the odor is emitted and when they’re squished it becomes quite strong. Stink bugs are also known for their shield-shaped bodies. They will find their way indoors while looking for a warm place to spend the winter. These pests are not harmful to you or your pets, but are harmful to crops. While indoors, they’re mainly a nuisance pest and can be difficult to eliminate once they've gained entry to your home. Though you can vacuum up any stink bugs you see in your home, it may be worth noting that this method may cause your vacuum to stink.
Fall is an important time to put some prevention measures in place. If there’s a way into your home, it’s almost certain pests will use it. The first step is sealing off any cracks around the exterior of your house. Check the foundation, around windows and doors, and around pipes. Putting a cap on your chimney is helpful, as well as installing screens, if necessary. If no entry is available, stink bugs won’t be able to spend the winter in your home. However, you’ll have to be careful if insects have already entered your home. They will often tuck away out of sight and re-emerge in the spring, looking to get back outside.
If you think you have an invasion or you are worried you’re at risk, don’t hesitate to contact professional pest control. At Parkway Pest Services we are here to serve you! We will partner with you to protect your home and family from unwanted pests that wish to spend the winter hiding away in your home.
At Parkway, our technicians are trained and experienced in eliminating and preventing pests. We pride ourselves on being Green Pest Control and on our use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which means we only use chemicals as a last resort. This is a much safer option for you and your family. Contact Parkway Pest Services if you’re worried about insects in your home.